Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-17
MATTERS PERTAINING TO AGRI.
CULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
The Question of Phylloxera and Re.
sistant Vines-Profits in Wal
nuts-General Notes.

locations and soils wanting in lime. Thi:
latter variety is extremely scarce IN Cali.
fornia and cuttings have been imported
from Texas to fill the demand. Among di.
rect producers the Petit Bouchet and the
Alicante Bouchet are favorites where color
IS needed, as they at the same time
bear heavy crop. Next to them in i'm
portance stand the Mondense, which is
also very heavy bearer. Among white
grapes, the Colombian, known in this coun.
try as the Sauvignon Vert, is the pro
nounced favorite, its adaptability to all
soils, climates and exposures found in the
bay counties making it nearly everybody
choice. 1t grows large crop and abun.
dant foliage to prevent sunburn. The
Muscat will form probably the largest part
OF next years planting, particularly in
southern and interior counties, where
raisin drying has proved successful. No
other grape is so extensively propagated
for that purpose. OF raisins, the produc-
ton for last season will be from $50. 900 to
100000 boxes"
BIG PROFITS ON wALNUTS.
A day or two ago Sam A. Maxwell
Monrovia's 200-pound real estate agent,
laid upon the Planet table a number OF
walnuts grown upon the trees on his place
at Duarte, about a mile from Monrovia,
They were exceedingly large nuts, well
filled with splendid meat Sam said: 81
saw where you said last week that Santa
Ana man had realized Sc per tree, or $3.50
to $3.50 per acre for his walnuts this wear.
and l thought | had better come in and
tell you that we can beat that all hollow
at Duarte." And then he gave a state
ment of his yield this year. He has 147
trees, or nearly five acres. The trees are
twenty-five and thirty years old, and are
very large. They have been bearing now
for score of years, and the yield is con-
stantly increasing. The trees are known
to live hundred years and bear every
year. But to the point. The crop this
year averages three sacks to the tree.
which would be AL sacks, each running
90 pounds. The entire crop can be sold at
ten cents pound, or Sc sack, making
the yield S2,646 for the five acres, or about
$3.50 an acre. Deduct from this the cost
of the sacks at 9 cents each and it would
leave S2,606. This is about all the outlay.
The owner is generally saved the trouble
OF shipping them. as the buyer purchases
them on the ground. Walnuts are fa1
easier grown than oranges. They don't
need half the attention. One man with a
team could take care of ten acres and
have over half of his time free. When
the trees are younger other produce can be
grown between them. Parties who have
seen these walnuts say they are the best
this year. Sam also says that the trim
mlngs of the trees furnishes his house
with all the fire-wood required. Truly
there are worse avocations than raising
walnuts.-MonroUia Planet.
MONEY IN APPLES.
Richard Windsor, of Malarin, was il
Salinas several days this week, and
informed the writer that he had al
abundant crop of apples this year
MIR: Windsor is pioneer fruit man in thi:
valley, and was among the first to explode
the idea that the Salinas valley is good fo1
nothing but grain-growing From two
trees eleven years old, he picked this yea
thirty-eight boxes of bellhowers, and
from quarter Of an acre of trees of differ
ent ages, he picked four hundred boxes
These apples, which are A No. l, sci
readily for 70 cents per box Thus, it vii
be seen that from two trees Mr.. Windsor
realized S2S 80, and that from a quarter O
an acre he realized $780, He has abou
ten acres in fruit, but many of his tree
are yet only quite young, and have mo-
come into full bearing.-Er.
CALIFORNIA LEMONS
A writer, who explains the cause of the
poor quality of California lemons, says the
fault lies with the orchardist. A lemon
ripened on the trees is valueless, and i.
think-skinned and of too great size. |
you are connoisseur in such matters, vol
will note that imported lemons do not 70
easily, are thin-skinned, juicy and of uni
form size. In Sicily the lemon is PICKED
when perfectly green and placed in boxe
of dry sand, where it remains four or fiv,
months to ripen; then it is sorted ant
stripped. Probably if the California
lemons were ripened in this way the com
plants that they are bitter would cease
Exchange
FOR INCREASE OF MILK.
Warm water for cows to drink in winter
Is beginning to be understood as one of tn,
essentials in successful winter dairying
Even drinking ice-cold water in winter 81
chllls the cows system and lowers its TEN
perature as to cause marked diminutior
in the flow of milk. Exposure to pierre
ing cold draft of air on leaving the stabI,
and going but short distance to drink
plainly shows in the shrinkage of the mes.
of milk. Hence it pays to not only warn
the water for the cows to drink, but to Civ,
it to them in the stable, or under shelter
in severe winter weather. These things
which have a solid foundation in common
sense, have not been thought of or dis
cussed, much less practiced, until within q
few years past. But they are destined tc
become of universal acceptance, and no in
telligent dairyman will think of dispens
ing with anything that adds to the cow
comfort.-Prairie Farmer.
HOW PEPPERMINT Is GROWN.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is native
of Europe, but easily grown in this coun
try. Its main use, outside of the culinary
garden, where it is grown to some extent
around large cities for favoring is for dis
tillation. Spring is the best time fol
planting. Light burrows are made, il
which the running underground roots are
planted in a nearly continuous row, about
eighteen inches apart. These may be GOV
cred by the feet, rake, or any other meth
cd. Except the ordinary hoeing anC
cleaning, no further care is required unit
the cutting. This VIII be about the end O.
August or September, and the crop is har
vested as the still can use it up. Wher
cut the plants are allowed to lie day Oh
two to partially wilt. A plantation viii
last ordinarily three or four years. but tn,
first crop is usually the best and heaviest
weeds being very troublesome in old beds
The essential oil, as in other things, is OBJ
tanned by means of the worm still, and the
product ranges from fifteen to twenty
pounds per acre. OF course after the arti
Gle is obtained a market is needed. Pep
permint is generally most profitable wherc
quantity is grown together. st. JOSEPH
county, Mich, used years ago to be noted
for its peppermint. Whether it is yet W,
are not advised, but think it is.-Prairi
| Farmer.
GENERAL NOTES.
The greatest drawback to dairying, saw
an Eastern writer, is that the dairymel
buy their COWS and do not raise them
Under such a system there can be yer,
little improvement, while the average yiell
of milk cannot be increased. Under til
system now practiced two cows are KEEP
where one would suffice if she were of Al
improved breed. Yet the opportunitie